Vita honoured for excellence in international trade

On Thursday 7th April, The Vita Group was thrilled to be presented with the ‘Judges’ Choice for International Trade’ award during the Manchester Evening News Business Awards, which took place at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city.

The judges were impressed by The Vita Group‘s commitment to innovation and expansion across its significant international footprint. The Vita Group sells into more than 70 international markets and operates 36 sites across 15 European countries with more than 3,400 members of staff.

75% of The Vita Group’s sales and 70% of its production takes place outside the UK. Last year, the acquisition of Naples-based foam manufacturer I.M.P.E. S.p.A, provided The Vita Group with a foothold in one of Europe’s largest furniture producing and exporting countries.

The Vita Group’s international success is built upon investing in R&D activities and maintaining operational flexibility to make sure its customers are offered a broad portfolio of solutions that are ahead of the curve. Establishing a Comfort Foam Innovation Centre in Lithuania has allowed The Vita Group to utilise the latest technologies and ideas to effectively react to market demands across continental Europe.

Ian Robb, chief executive of The Vita Group, said:

Gilbert Davids and Ian Robb

“There are a wealth of outstanding businesses in Greater Manchester that are exporting our region’s excellence around the world, so to receive this honour is a very proud moment for The Vita Group.

“Being able to anticipate our customers’ needs and make sure we can meet them has been central to our success in overseas markets. Customers trust that our products will be of a high-quality and, thanks to our Europe-wide coverage for customer services, production, and logistics, that we will be able to meet their needs whatever the challenge.  Our commitment to innovation is also vital, as it allows us to future-proof our collection and ensure that we have new technologies ready to go exactly when customers require them.

“This award is testament to the hard work and resilience of The Vita Group and its people over the last year, as the company continues to move forward, pioneering the PU-foam industry to a greener future across more international markets.

“I’d also like to congratulate all our fellow nominees and winners at last night’s awards. It’s a privilege for The Vita Group to be part of the exciting and innovative business community we have here in Greater Manchester.”

The Manchester Evening News Business Awards was launched in 1992 and has gone on to become the longest-standing business awards evening across the North West.

This new accomplishment adds to Vita’s impressive run of award wins, including the ‘International Trade Company (£100m+)’ award at the North West Business Insider’s International Trade awards evening in December.